William "Bill" Carlus Parish

William Carlus Parish (Bill) passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 31st at the age of 89, surrounded by his family. Born on March 27, 1935 in Harlingen, Texas, "Billy Carl" was the only child of Myrtle Parish, a nurse, who raised him on her own in Waco, Texas. Bill’s academic prowess led to his selection by the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London Connecticut, where he graduated in 1957. Bill also earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and later, an MBA from George Washington University.

While Hawaii was still a territory, he served his first tour of duty on the Cutter Matagorda, stationed in Honolulu. A blind date there introduced him to Margaret Schreiner, his future wife. After a few dates, the couple was separated when he received orders to ship out for Antarctica. After more than two years of correspondence, Bill challenged Margaret to "marry me, or never write to me again." Following a brief courtship back on the mainland and a cross-country tour to meet each other's families, they were married in Troy, New York on June 11, 1961.

Known as “The Tall Texan" at the Coast Guard Academy, the boy with a hardscrabble background was blessed to have access to a wide range of educational opportunities and the wealth of experiences through military service. Over his 20-year Coast Guard career, Bill had some amazing adventures that took him to far corners of the world upon every continent.

As a Cadet, he earned his square rigger sailing credentials aboard the Eagle, America's tall ship, where he climbed out to the end of the top Gallant yard at dizzying heights, in winds gusting to 75 knots, to cut a sail loose while riding out a hurricane off Bermuda. His second Eagle voyage to the North Atlantic lasted 77 days, more than 60 of which were spent at sea, with fresh water showers turned on just three times. While accompanying the Eagle to Cuba and attending a party at the US Ambassador’s home, he met Ernest Hemingway who boarded the vessel for a brief sail as it departed Havana.

Bill also served aboard the icebreaker Northwind during Operation Deep Freeze IV, where he crossed the equator as a "Pollywog" and was inducted in maritime tradition into the "Ancient Order of the Shellbacks." While clearing the way for Navy cargo ships in Antarctica, he played with penguins, explored the Little America III base buried 40’ in within iceberg where 20 year old roast beef was retrieved for a New Year’s 1959 feast celebrated atop an ice floe. While evacuating a British crew who had become iced in, the Northwind crew spent 10 days in a spot not knowing if they could get out and without sufficient food and fuel to last the winter. Fortunately, the winds shifted favorably allowing escape. Bill said, “there are no atheists in foxholes, nor in frozen-in icebreakers.”

He worked on LORAN stations (pre-GPS) in Greenland and Sardinia, Italy, which were strategically significant during the Cold War. During his tenure as Governor's Island's Director of Public Works from 1974 to1976, Commander Parish oversaw the abandoned Ellis Island, whose Grand Hall was still cluttered with the personal effects of the numerous immigrants who had passed through it.

Commanding the buoy tender Sassafras headquartered in Cape May, New Jersey was a high point of his CG career. He was commended for navigating through 30-foot seas over 100 miles into the eye of a fierce North Atlantic storm to save the crew of a sinking fishing trawler.  Other tours of duty led him and his family to the Washington D.C. area, New Orleans, Naples, Italy, and Governors Island in New York City. 

Retiring from the Coast Guard in 1977, Bill began his civilian career in Ann Arbor Michigan with Townsend and Bottum Engineering Co, before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1984 to work for J.A. Jones Construction and, ultimately, Pease Engineering & Architecture.

Bill and Margaret, a former Hospice nurse, were tireless volunteers, serving at Urban Ministries, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Community Link, ECO, Loaves and Fishes, Charlotte Correction Center, Habitat for Humanity, Friendship Trays, CMC, and Bill was a proud member of the RAMS (Retired Active Military Service) and a devoted participant of Carmel Baptist Sunday School.

He is survived by his loving wife Margaret of 63 years, daughters Beth Fedor (Bill), Mary Terhune (Jim), son Julian Parish (Leanne Smullen), grandchildren Alek Fedor, Natasha Fedor, Laura Renfroe (Reily), Sarah Turnbull (Garrett), David Terhune, and great grandchildren Shepard Renfroe, Walker Renfroe, and Lyla Turnbull.

Bill will be honored with a Celebration of Life ceremony on Saturday, September 7th at 10am in the Uptown Auditorium at Carmel Baptist Church at 1145 Pineville-Matthews Road. Friends and relatives will be welcomed by the family.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests contributions to Roof Above (formerly known as Urban Ministries) and Carmel Baptist Church.

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